Things to Do in Rome
62 things to do in Rome
Rome rewards wanderers. Beyond the postcard sights, the city sprawls across hills and ancient roads where you'll find unexpected treasures—a baroque church revealing its illusionistic ceiling, a neighborhood of art nouveau villas frozen in time, a keyhole framing a perfect view of the Basilica of San Pietro.
Start with the obvious: the Roman Forum and Colosseum area, then branch out. Descend into the Basilica of San Clemente to see 12 centuries of history layered vertically, or walk the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica to see tombs and temples from the imperial era. The Baths of Caracalla still convey the scale of Roman leisure. For art, the Musei Capitolini and Palazzo Barberini hold works you'll remember for years.
The Trastevere neighborhood and Centro Storico are where locals eat and drink. Monti has morphed into a creative hub. Climb Janiculum Hill at sunset, duck through the Knights of Malta Keyhole for a three-layered view, or simply sit by Trevi Fountain when the crowds thin. Rome moves at its own pace—plan for long lunches, wandering side streets, and the kind of slow days that make the city legendary.
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The Colosseum
Must-seeRome's defining monument; ancient engineering marvel central to understanding the city.
Piazza Del Colosseo 1, 00184 Roma Rome, Italy - 2
Centro Storico
Must-seeRome's defining historic core; unmissable concentration of monuments, piazzas, and churches.
00185 Rome Italy - 3
Trevi Fountain
Must-seeRome's most iconic Baroque fountain; unmissable architectural and cultural landmark.
Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Rome Italy - 4
The Pantheon
Must-seeNearly 2000 years old, intact Roman temple with architectural marvel dome—Rome's essential landmark.
Piazza Della Rotonda 00186, 00186 Roma Rome, Italy - 5
Roman Forum
Must-seeEssential ancient Roman site and defining landmark; missing it undermines any Rome visit.
Largo della Salara Vecchia 5/6, 00186 Rome Italy - 6
Palatine Hill
Must-seeAncient birthplace of Rome with unmatched archaeological layers and Forum views.
Piazza Santa Maria Nova, 53, 00186 Rome Italy - 7
Piazza Navona
Must-seeIconic baroque piazza with visible ancient stadium footprint; essential Rome experience.
00186 Rome Italy - 8
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Must-seeOne of Rome's four major basilicas with fifth-century mosaics; essential for art and religion history.
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore 42, 00185 Rome Italy - 9
Villa Borghese
Must-seeMassive parkland with world-class art museum; essential for culture and green space in Rome.
P.zzale del Museo Borghese, 00155 Rome Italy - 10
Trastevere Neighborhood
Must-seeCharming neighborhood with authentic local character, medieval streets, and historic churches worth exploring.
Trastevere, Trastevere, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy - 11
Musei Capitolini
Must-seeWorld's oldest public museums with essential Roman sculpture and artefacts; Michelangelo-designed piazza adds architectural significance.
Piazza del Campidoglio 1, 00186 Rome Italy - 12
Castel Sant'Angelo
Must-seeIconic riverside fortress with 2000 years of history and panoramic city views.
Lungotevere Castello, 50, 00193 Roma RM, Italy - 13
Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo
Must-seeUnique layered history and riverside setting with Vatican views; rewarding alternative to crowded central Rome.
Lungotevere Castello 50, 00193 Rome Italy - 14
Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome's oldest church and papal cathedral, historically outranks St. Peter's, widely missed by tourists.
Piazza di Porta San Giovanni, 4, 00184 Rome Italy - 15
Galleria Borghese
One of Italy's finest art collections with masterworks by Caravaggio, Bernini, and Raphael in an intimate villa setting.
Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5, 00197 Rome Italy - 16
Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola
Baroque masterpiece with breathtaking illusionistic ceiling; unmissable for art and architecture.
Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, Piazza S. Ignazio, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 17
Ostia Antica
Well-preserved Roman port city offers authentic urban archaeology with fewer crowds than central Rome sites.
Ostia Antica, 00119 Ostia Antica RM, Italy - 18
Monti
Central bohemian neighborhood with authentic atmosphere, excellent location near major sights.
Monti, Monti, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy - 19
Largo di Torre Argentina
Julius Caesar assassination site with Republican temples; essential for history lovers, quick accessible stop.
Largo di Torre Argentina, Largo di Torre Argentina, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 20
Piazza Venezia
Rome's central crossroads with Vittoriano monument; essential orientation hub but less compelling than individual nearby attractions.
Piazza Venezia, 00187 Rome Italy - 21
Campo De’ Fiori
Iconic Roman square and market; essential experience of local life and atmosphere.
Campo de' Fiori, Campo de' Fiori, Roma, Rome 00186, Italy - 22
Janiculum Hill
Essential panoramic views of Rome; Garibaldi monuments; peaceful green space overlooking the city.
Janiculum Hill, Municipio I, 00165 Roma RM, Italy - 23
Baths of Caracalla
Spectacular surviving Roman bath complex with scale and architectural detail; essential for ancient Rome enthusiasts.
Baths of Caracalla, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Roma RM, Italy - 24
Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica – Palazzo Barberini
Major Italian Old Masters collection in grand Baroque palace; essential for art-focused itineraries.
Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica - Palazzo Barberini, Via delle Quattro Fontane, 13, 00184 Roma RM, Italy - 25
Basilica of San Clemente
Unique multi-layered archaeology spanning two millennia, walking distance from Colosseum.
Via Labicana 95, 00184 Rome Italy - 26
Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem
Historically significant 4th-century basilica housing famous Passion relics; strongly recommended for church and history enthusiasts.
Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Piazza di S. Croce in Gerusalemme, 10, 00185 Roma RM, Italy - 27
Museo Nazionale Romano – Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
World-class Roman art collection in a manageable space; deserves visit despite Colosseum and Vatican competition.
Largo di Villa Peretti 2 Museo Nazionale Romano, 00185 Rome Italy - 28
Museo e Cripta dei Cappuccini
Genuinely unique ossuary; deeply atmospheric spiritual artifact unlike Rome's typical attractions.
Via Vittorio Veneto, 27, 00187 Roma RM, Italy - 29
Testaccio Market
Authentic working market reflecting genuine Roman daily life, not tourist-focused.
Via Aldo Manuzio, 66b, 00153 Roma RM, Italy - 30
Museo Nazionale Romano, Terme di Diocleziano
Largest Roman bath complex ever built; impressive engineering and scale; part of major museum.
Museo Nazionale Romano, Terme di Diocleziano, Viale Enrico de Nicola, 78, 00185 Roma RM, Italy - 31
Domus Aurea
Emperor Nero's vast palace ruins reveal Roman imperial excess; worth visiting near Colosseum.
Viale della Domus Aurea 1, 00184 Rome Italy - 32
Catacombs of Saint Sebastian
Major early Christian archaeological site; unique underground experience less crowded than central Rome.
Via Appia Antica, 136, 00179 Roma RM, Italy - 33
Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini
Unique underground Roman houses with excellent digital reconstruction; strong alternative to crowded major sites.
Foro Traiano, 85, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 34
Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica
Iconic Roman road with ancient ruins spanning centuries; essential for understanding Rome's expansion outside the city center.
Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica, Via Appia Antica, 42, 00178 Roma RM, Italy - 35
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pace
Renaissance church with Raphael frescoes near Piazza Navona; architecturally significant but less central than Rome's major basilicas.
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pace, Arco della Pace, 5, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 36
Tiber Island
Ancient island with 2,000 years of history, quieter than major sites, excellent for atmospheric walk.
Tiber Island, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy - 37
Quartiere Coppedè
Unique early-1900s architectural ensemble worth seeing if architecture interests you, but north Rome location limits walkability to major sights.
Quartiere Coppedè, Piazza Mincio, 00100 Roma RM, Italy - 38
The Vatican
UNESCO World Heritage site with St. Peter's Basilica and Michelangelo's masterpieces; Rome's defining landmark.
Vatican City - 39
Temple of Hercules Victor
Rome's best-preserved ancient marble temple; essential for classical architecture lovers.
Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 40
Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana
Impressive modernist landmark, but requires EUR district detour from central Rome sights.
Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, Quadrato della Concordia, 00144 Roma RM, Italy - 41
Aventine Hill
Genuine ancient history and genuine quietness; peaceful alternative viewpoint to overcrowded central Rome.
Aventine Hill, Aventine Hill, 00153 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy - 42
Galleria Sciarra
Stunning Art Nouveau arcade near Pantheon; Rome's hidden gem for architecture lovers.
Via Marco Minghetti, 10, 00187 Roma RM, Italy - 43
Circus of Maxentius
Best-preserved Roman circus in Italy; free entry; quieter alternative to crowded central sites.
Circus of Maxentius, Via Appia Antica, 153, 00179 Roma RM, Italy - 44
Knights of Malta Keyhole
Unique framed view of St. Peter's through keyhole; free, no-queue alternative to paid viewpoints.
Knights of Malta Keyhole, Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta, 3, 00153 Roma RM, Italy - 45
Case Romane del Celio
Layered Roman and early Christian history underground; fewer crowds than major sites.
Case Romane del Celio, Clivo di Scauro, 00184 Roma RM, Italy - 46
Pyramid of Caius Cestius
Unique Roman monument well-preserved, but peripheral location limits appeal versus central Rome attractions.
Via Raffaele Persichetti, 00153 Roma RM, Italy - 47
Magia a Campo de' Fiori
Historic piazza with working market and authentic local life; central Rome experience.
Campo de' Fiori, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 48
Museo Storico della Liberazione
Authentic WWII site in former Gestapo headquarters; powerful but specialized historical experience.
Via Torquato Tasso, 145, 00185 Roma RM, Italy - 49
House of Augustus
Rare Second Style frescoes and Augustus's actual home, essential for Roman history enthusiasts.
House of Augustus, Palatino Parco archeologico del Colosseo, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 50
Parco Archeologico del Celio
Authentic layered archaeology on Caelian Hill; less crowded alternative to major monuments.
Viale di Parco del Celio, 22, 00184 Roma RM, Italy - 51
Vicus Caprarius – The Water City
Well-preserved underground Roman structures and engineering; worthwhile if interested in less-crowded ancient sites.
Vicus Caprarius - The Water City, Vicolo del Puttarello, 25, 00187 Roma RM, Italy - 52
San Nicola in Carcere
Medieval church built over three Roman temples; unique archaeological layering worth seeing if interested in Rome's history.
San Nicola in Carcere, Via del Teatro di Marcello, 46, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 53
Mercato di San Cosimato
Authentic local market in Trastevere; worth visiting for authentic Rome experience if nearby.
Piazza di S. Cosimato, 64, 00153 Roma RM, Italy - 54
Roseto comunale
Beautiful rose garden with Jewish historical significance; worth visiting if interested in gardens and local history.
Roseto comunale, Via di Valle Murcia, 6, 00153 Roma RM, Italy - 55
Temple of Portunus
Well-preserved Republican temple worth seeing if nearby; skip if time is tight elsewhere.
Temple of Portunus, Piazza della Bocca della Verità, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 56
Crypta Balbi – Museo Nazionale Romano
Excellent for understanding Rome's evolution, but less iconic than major sites like the Colosseum or Forum.
Crypta Balbi - Museo Nazionale Romano, V. delle Botteghe Oscure, 31, 00186 Roma RM, Italy - 57
Monte Testaccio
Unique archaeological artifact showing ancient Roman trade; worth visiting if exploring Testaccio neighborhood.
Monte Testaccio, 00153 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy - 58
Villa Torlonia Bunker
Unique WWII bunker offers visceral history; peripheral to Rome's core attractions.
Via Nomentana, 70, 00161 Roma RM, Italy - 59
Palazzo Colonna – Galleria Colonna
Outstanding baroque art collection in a lived-in palace, far fewer crowds than rival galleries.
Via della Pilotta 17, 00187 Rome Italy - 60
Tombs of Via Latina
Tombs of Via Latina, Via dell'Arco di Travertino, 151, 00178 Roma RM, Italy
Things to Do in Rome: FAQ
What's the best way to see ancient Rome without spending all day in crowds?
Visit less-crowded sites like Ostia Antica, the Tombs of Via Latina, and the Pyramid of Caius Cestius early in the morning. The Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica lets you see imperial-era remains on foot without the bottlenecks of the Forum.
Where should I go for art and museums?
The Musei Capitolini and Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica at Palazzo Barberini are the city's finest. For something off the main path, Palazzo Colonna's Galleria Colonna offers frescoes and paintings in a working noble residence.
Which neighborhoods are best for getting a real sense of Rome?
Trastevere and Centro Storico are the heart of Roman life—narrow streets, trattorias, and locals everywhere. Monti has younger energy, while Quartiere Coppedè is a hidden enclave of belle époque architecture.